Big Four Ice Caves Patch

6.00

A wonder of Washington.

Reached by one of the most manicured trails in the Cascades, Big Four Mountain's famed ice caves can be enjoyed by hikers of all walks. Hikers have been marveling at these frozen spectacles of nature for over a century. The hike roundtrip is only 2.2 miles. The mountain is about 6,135 ft. high and on its north flank, debris piles form from avalanches and are able to remain there year round because of the continuous shade provided by the mountain.

WARNING:For your own safety, never enter these ice caves. No matter how safe they might seem.

BIG FOUR ICE CAVES

WARNING: For your own safety, never enter these ice caves. No matter how safe they might seem. In addition to spontaneous collapse, there is high risk in winter from avalanches off the mountain which feed the caves. Not only is there a risk of being in the avalanche zone, but people have been in the caves and then sealed inside by an avalanche.

Reached by one of the most manicured trails in the Cascades, Big Four Mountain's famed ice caves can be enjoyed by hikers of all walks. Hikers have been marveling at these frozen spectacles of nature for over a century. The hike roundtrip is only 2.2 miles. The mountain is about 6,135 ft. high and on its north flank, debris piles form from avalanches and are able to remain there year round because of the continuous shade provided by the mountain. This ice forms the lowest-elevation glacier in the lower 49 states. During the summer, snow-melt in the form of cascading water and warm winds hollow out heaps of avalanche-deposited snow and cause caves to be formed in the ice.